FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION INDUSTRY

ECONOMIC
IMPACT
REPORT | 2018

THE FIREARMS INDUSTRY TRADE ASSOCIATION | NSSF.ORG |

Who is the National Shooting Sports Foundation?
T he National Shooting Sports
Foundation (NSSF) is the
trade association for the firearms
industry. Its mission is to promote,
protect and preserve hunting and
the shooting sports. Formed in
1961, NSSF has a membership
of about 13,000 manufacturers,
distributors, firearms retailers,
shooting ranges, sportsmen’s
organizations and publishers.
For more than 200 years,
America’s firearms and ammunition
industry has made products that
have been part of our country’s
tradition of freedom, self-reliance
and enjoyment of the outdoors.
The Firearms and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report
T his report details the
significant economic impact
the firearms and ammunition
industry has on the nation’s
and each state’s economy. The
economic growth America’s
firearms and ammunition industry
has experienced in recent
years has been nothing short
NSSF has led the way in promoting
responsible ownership of firearms.
NSSF concentrates its
efforts on measurably advancing
participation in and understanding
of hunting and the shooting sports;
reaffirming and strengthening
our members’ commitment to the
safe and responsible use of their
of remarkable. Over the past
decade, the industry’s growth has
been driven by an unprecedented
number of Americans choosing to
exercise their fundamental right to
keep and bear arms and purchase
a firearm and ammunition.
NSSF, representing America’s
firearms and ammunition
products, and promoting a political
climate supportive of America’s
traditional firearms rights.
NSSF’s expanding government
relations program responds to the
ever-changing political environment
that threatens the lawful commerce
in our industry’s products, the future
of hunting, recreational shooting
and our firearms freedoms. NSSF
works on both state and federal
issues, along with working with
many state and federal regulatory
agencies, to protect the firearms
industry and make sure their
business interests are appropriately
represented.
manufacturers, takes great pride
in supporting wildlife conservation
efforts. Noted in the economic
impact report is the significant
taxes paid by our industry to
federal and state governments
and the Pittman-Robertson
excise tax the industry pays on
the products it sells – this tax
is the major source of wildlife
conservation funding in America.
Regardless of economic
conditions across the country, our
industry has grown and created
about 91,000 new, well-paying
jobs over the past five years. Our
industry is proud to be one of the
bright spots in this economy.
Take a look for yourself and see
the impact we have nationally and
on your home state.
(See center spread.)
THE FIREARMS INDUSTRY CREATES
JOBS IN AMERICA
United States companies that manufacture, distribute, and sell sporting firearms,
ammunition, and supplies are an important part of the country’s economy.
Manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, and supplies, along with the companies
that sell and distribute these products, provide well paying jobs in America and pay
significant amounts in tax to the state and Federal governments.

Economic Impact of the Sporting Arms

and Ammunition Industry in the United States
Direct Supplier Induced Total
Jobs (FTE) 149,113 62,757 99,038 310,908

Wages $6,074,728,900 $4,313,168,400 $5,079,369,400 $15,467,266,700

Economic $21,048,197,400 $14,207,302,200 $16,153,148,400 $51,408,648,000
Impact

The Firearms & Ammunition Industry is an Important Part of America’s Economy

Companies in the United States that manufacture, distribute, and sell firearms,
ammunition, and hunting equipment employ as many as 149,113 people in the country and
generate an additional 161,795 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries. This include jobs
in supplying goods and services to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, and those
that depend on sales to workers in the firearms and ammunition industry.1
These are good jobs paying an average of $49,749 in wages and benefits. And today,
every job is important. The United States currently has an unemployment rate of 4.32
percent. This means that there are currently 6,934,000 people trying to find jobs in the
nation and collecting unemployment benefits.2

The Economic Benefit of the Industry Spreads Throughout the Country

Not only does the manufacture and sale of firearms and hunting supplies create good
jobs in the United States, but the industry also contributes to the economy as a whole.
In fact, in 2017 the firearms and ammunition industry was responsible for as much as
$51.41 billion in total economic activity in the country.
Taxes Generated in the United States
The broader economic impact flows throughout the
economy, generating business for firms seemingly Tax Impact Business Taxes Excise Taxes
unrelated to firearms. Real people, with real jobs, working Federal Taxes $3,911,087,800 $717,810,500
in industries as varied as banking, retail, accounting, State Taxes $2,872,306,400
metal working, even in printing, all depend on the Total Taxes $6,783,394,200 $717,810,500
firearms and ammunition industry for their livelihood.

The Country Also Benefits From the Taxes Paid By The Industry
Not only does the industry create jobs, it also generates sizeable tax revenues. In the United States, the industry
and its employees pay over $6.78 billion in taxes including property, income, and sales based levies.3

1 John Dunham & Associates, New York, December 2017. Direct impacts include those jobs in firearms and ammunition manufacturers, as well as companies that manufacture
products such as ammunition holders and magazines, cases, decoys, game calls, holsters, hunting equipment, scopes, clay pigeons and targets. Direct impacts also include those
resulting from the wholesale distribution and retailing of these products.
2 The Bureau of Labor Statistics. Available online at: www.bis.gov/lau/home.htm. Data for September ’17 .
3 This is in addition to over $717.81 million in federal excise taxes.

Source: John Dunham and Associates, Inc.

New York, New York 2017
ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION INDUSTRIES, 2017

Direct Suppliers
Jobs Wages Output Jobs Wages Output
Alabama 3,222 $109,577,400 $373,625,700 1,179 $65,669,800 $247,798,500
Alaska 719 $20,855,500 $49,551,000 199 $10,709,200 $36,121,500
Arizona 3,463 $162,802,800 $587,675,000 1,641 $107,579,100 $352,851,400
Arkansas 3,061 $120,643,200 $653,829,200 1,420 $79,273,800 $313,724,000
California 9,121 $404,732,800 $1,158,711,500 4,170 $338,816,100 $1,049,185,600
Colorado 2,234 $82,374,900 $254,531,300 963 $68,209,500 $213,319,900
Connecticut 2,683 $198,606,700 $743,700,400 1,211 $118,206,300 $314,749,500
District of Columbia 131 $4,505,300 $8,634,200 38 $3,580,800 $8,965,300
Delaware 170 $4,153,500 $9,404,200 61 $4,279,700 $14,988,300
Florida 7,157 $266,722,400 $1,003,787,700 3,472 $205,623,700 $725,320,600
Georgia 4,042 $139,819,300 $551,009,700 1,729 $113,434,500 $390,293,900
Hawaii 215 $8,787,700 $26,242,200 75 $3,789,300 $14,660,300
Idaho 3,219 $129,354,700 $556,314,600 1,500 $76,984,500 $299,647,400
Illinois 4,847 $239,018,600 $970,184,900 2,380 $185,134,000 $589,668,100
Indiana 3,798 $202,027,900 $492,993,800 1,382 $93,435,800 $318,683,800
Iowa 1,240 $38,715,000 $106,422,300 429 $26,704,200 $95,087,900
Kansas 2,716 $94,362,900 $304,450,100 1,072 $64,283,000 $225,684,100
Kentucky 2,015 $66,889,000 $193,931,100 705 $43,420,400 $156,536,300
Louisiana 2,289 $65,504,500 $196,177,300 807 $45,990,000 $155,596,700
Maine 1,293 $32,805,100 $89,546,700 421 $22,048,900 $83,304,400
Maryland 1,912 $115,493,900 $412,375,700 767 $57,148,900 $171,793,200
Massachusetts 3,758 $272,592,700 $1,287,644,100 1,829 $164,851,600 $465,242,000
Michigan 4,527 $145,286,000 $432,162,900 1,720 $114,068,400 $384,109,400
Minnesota 4,503 $266,526,200 $1,010,259,400 2,478 $191,793,900 $597,626,600
Mississippi 2,392 $92,075,000 $412,787,000 1,117 $54,241,100 $229,283,400
Missouri 5,468 $162,002,700 $529,238,100 2,041 $130,881,300 $456,203,900
Montana 1,516 $53,132,400 $199,153,400 602 $28,477,700 $105,300,700
Nebraska 1,604 $45,232,700 $154,094,700 579 $42,600,300 $131,770,400
Nevada 1,355 $38,522,200 $125,226,900 485 $28,221,000 $100,153,400
New Hampshire 2,619 $204,125,800 $765,018,700 1,261 $92,073,200 $269,241,900
New Jersey 1,054 $60,185,900 $145,222,000 476 $40,456,900 $117,486,600
New Mexico 661 $13,505,600 $49,998,200 218 $10,074,200 $44,465,500
New York 4,156 $257,581,800 $919,120,000 2,027 $194,766,400 $534,825,600
North Carolina 4,701 $153,892,700 $504,613,000 1,861 $112,557,000 $401,699,800
North Dakota 602 $17,941,100 $43,508,000 178 $9,736,800 $32,441,200
Ohio 6,533 $203,523,600 $561,142,400 2,354 $154,231,500 $546,852,500
Oklahoma 2,199 $60,032,500 $179,365,600 829 $52,694,100 $175,675,400
Oregon 2,919 $125,995,400 $453,847,500 1,587 $100,948,700 $321,459,800
Pennsylvania 5,986 $201,528,500 $606,007,000 2,230 $178,101,600 $545,454,900
Rhode Island 222 $15,575,100 $44,719,300 105 $6,663,000 $19,758,000
South Carolina 2,913 $120,606,700 $456,877,700 1,175 $66,911,300 $242,283,800
South Dakota 1,074 $35,267,300 $148,116,900 400 $24,641,300 $81,399,800
Tennessee 3,408 $118,669,800 $323,578,400 1,249 $80,098,900 $277,461,600
Texas 11,429 $412,023,200 $1,259,746,200 4,911 $357,127,500 $1,150,390,400
Utah 2,908 $133,229,700 $422,027,300 1,377 $77,093,500 $279,069,700
Vermont 550 $30,085,300 $117,083,800 203 $11,296,400 $38,276,400
Virginia 2,637 $81,079,500 $329,431,800 995 $70,535,200 $236,961,500
Washington 3,313 $109,072,400 $337,402,700 1,150 $81,553,100 $277,871,100
West Virginia 891 $20,322,300 $71,572,300 286 $15,757,200 $64,458,400
Wisconsin 2,785 $92,853,900 $328,964,000 1,130 $71,075,600 $246,292,100
Wyoming 883 $24,507,800 $87,169,500 283 $15,318,200 $55,805,700
United States 149,113 $6,074,728,900 $21,048,197,400 62,757 $4,313,168,400 $14,207,302,200
Source: John Dunham and Associates, Inc.
New York, New York 2017
 STATE BY STATE ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT

Induced Total Average Federal Excise

Jobs Wages Output Jobs Wages Output Wages Tax
1,434 $59,629,900 $221,109,600 5,835 $234,877,100 $842,533,800 $40,300 $17,413,700
204 $10,652,900 $35,329,800 1,122 $42,217,600 $121,002,300 $37,600 $4,383,500
2,450 $113,197,400 $360,648,500 7,554 $383,579,300 $1,301,174,900 $50,800 $14,010,400
1,427 $56,477,300 $204,016,100 5,908 $256,394,300 $1,171,569,300 $43,400 $10,363,000
9,158 $553,962,700 $1,654,188,000 22,449 $1,297,511,600 $3,862,085,100 $57,800 $57,682,700
1,634 $83,311,200 $255,747,700 4,831 $233,895,600 $723,598,900 $48,400 $12,812,500
1,826 $114,086,000 $302,645,300 5,720 $430,899,000 $1,361,095,200 $75,300 $6,019,300
207 $19,357,100 $38,546,000 376 $27,443,200 $56,145,500 $73,000 $1,097,700
176 $10,304,800 $39,012,600 407 $18,738,000 $63,405,100 $46,000 $1,106,700
5,841 $263,041,000 $837,202,400 16,470 $735,387,100 $2,566,310,700 $44,700 $32,843,800
2,810 $134,522,600 $459,434,800 8,581 $387,776,400 $1,400,738,400 $45,200 $19,809,800
285 $13,894,400 $44,904,500 575 $26,471,400 $85,807,000 $46,000 $1,627,200
1,371 $52,854,300 $179,643,500 6,090 $259,193,500 $1,035,605,500 $42,600 $9,793,500
4,304 $236,212,500 $747,474,900 11,531 $660,365,100 $2,307,327,900 $57,300 $18,037,100
2,596 $120,688,700 $426,389,100 7,776 $416,152,400 $1,238,066,700 $53,500 $18,401,000
824 $38,453,900 $155,766,500 2,493 $103,873,100 $357,276,700 $41,700 $6,966,600
1,187 $52,412,200 $192,145,000 4,975 $211,058,100 $722,279,200 $42,400 $14,268,600
1,112 $49,377,600 $188,573,700 3,832 $159,687,000 $539,041,100 $41,700 $10,945,200
1,138 $51,235,300 $192,056,000 4,234 $162,729,800 $543,830,000 $38,400 $13,541,600
482 $19,876,300 $66,008,800 2,196 $74,730,300 $238,859,900 $34,000 $7,972,400
1,630 $86,301,700 $253,149,000 4,309 $258,944,500 $837,317,900 $60,100 $6,659,900
3,117 $194,274,800 $514,990,700 8,704 $631,719,100 $2,267,876,800 $72,600 $5,676,300
2,707 $130,681,800 $445,915,500 8,954 $390,036,200 $1,262,187,800 $43,600 $26,885,700
3,635 $183,677,200 $553,256,200 10,616 $641,997,300 $2,161,142,200 $60,500 $14,974,300
1,142 $40,800,100 $160,029,600 4,651 $187,116,200 $802,100,000 $40,200 $7,564,100
2,435 $109,859,500 $375,543,500 9,944 $402,743,500 $1,360,985,500 $40,500 $27,826,600
581 $22,501,900 $75,398,500 2,699 $104,112,000 $379,852,600 $38,600 $5,376,000
725 $34,024,800 $125,798,600 2,908 $121,857,800 $411,663,700 $41,900 $8,715,500
764 $35,781,900 $116,263,100 2,604 $102,525,100 $341,643,400 $39,400 $8,919,500
1,735 $86,197,100 $245,047,900 5,615 $382,396,100 $1,279,308,500 $68,100 $3,198,800
1,810 $114,779,500 $325,307,200 3,340 $215,422,300 $588,015,800 $64,500 $7,632,400
366 $14,571,100 $54,507,100 1,245 $38,150,900 $148,970,800 $30,600 $3,605,400
4,793 $327,581,800 $915,260,600 10,976 $779,930,000 $2,369,206,200 $71,100 $13,066,300
2,773 $127,115,600 $451,745,000 9,335 $393,565,300 $1,358,057,800 $42,200 $22,311,400
234 $11,128,600 $39,596,000 1,014 $38,806,500 $115,545,200 $38,300 $4,040,000
3,583 $168,431,800 $591,926,500 12,470 $526,186,900 $1,699,921,400 $42,200 $40,939,500
1,013 $49,134,000 $154,920,800 4,041 $161,860,600 $509,961,800 $40,100 $11,914,900
1,776 $82,316,900 $254,884,600 6,282 $309,261,000 $1,030,191,900 $49,200 $9,166,600
3,771 $205,166,200 $621,633,300 11,987 $584,796,300 $1,773,095,200 $48,800 $30,761,500
265 $13,657,200 $41,126,500 592 $35,895,300 $105,603,800 $60,600 $826,000
1,536 $63,755,800 $228,161,100 5,624 $251,273,800 $927,322,600 $44,700 $12,216,700
423 $18,961,900 $65,723,100 1,897 $78,870,500 $295,239,800 $41,600 $4,624,500
2,003 $102,456,000 $323,078,700 6,660 $301,224,700 $924,118,700 $45,200 $20,861,700
7,795 $417,741,400 $1,331,605,100 24,135 $1,186,892,100 $3,741,741,700 $49,200 $65,709,000
1,662 $69,234,100 $243,559,000 5,947 $279,557,300 $944,656,000 $47,000 $15,538,500
323 $13,576,100 $44,182,400 1,076 $54,957,800 $199,542,600 $51,100 $1,786,600
1,840 $94,658,900 $297,147,000 5,472 $246,273,600 $863,540,300 $45,000 $13,062,000
1,781 $100,025,400 $314,584,500 6,244 $290,650,900 $929,858,300 $46,500 $22,614,600
364 $15,358,900 $57,119,500 1,541 $51,438,400 $193,150,200 $33,400 $4,875,300
1,779 $83,350,300 $296,100,100 5,694 $247,279,800 $871,356,200 $43,400 $12,624,000
211 $8,719,000 $34,744,900 1,377 $48,545,000 $177,720,100 $35,300 $4,740,600
99,038 $5,079,369,400 $16,153,148,400 310,908 $15,467,266,700 $51,408,648,000 $49,700 $717,810,500
STATE RANKINGS - 2017

Economic Output: Top Ten States

Total Economic Output, dollars Total Economic Output, per capita Growth in Economic Output
California New Hampshire Hawaii
Texas Idaho Vermont
Florida Arkansas Indiana
New York Minnesota New Jersey
Illinois Connecticut Delaware
Massachusetts Montana Maryland
Minnesota South Dakota New Hampshire
Pennsylvania Massachusetts New York
Ohio Vermont Massachusetts
Georgia Wyoming South Carolina

Jobs: Top Ten States

Total Jobs, number Total Jobs, per capita Growth in Jobs
Texas New Hampshire New Jersey
California Idaho Hawaii
Florida Montana Vermont
Ohio Wyoming Indiana
Pennsylvania South Dakota Maryland
Illinois Arkansas Delaware
New York Utah New Hampshire
Minnesota Minnesota New York
Missouri Vermont Massachusetts
North Carolina Kansas Connecticut

Excise Tax: Top Ten States

Federal Excise Taxes, number Federal Excise Taxes, per capita Growth in Excise Taxes
Texas Wyoming New Jersey
California Maine New York
Ohio Alaska Hawaii
Florida Idaho Massachusetts
Pennsylvania North Dakota Arkansas
Missouri South Dakota Idaho
Michigan Montana Iowa
Washington Utah Rhode Island
North Carolina Kansas Virginia
Tennessee Missouri Ohio
 WHAT A GROWING INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE...

JOBS WAGES ECONOMIC IMPACT

Total
Total
350 16 $15.2 $15.5 60
$14.5
350 16 $15.2 $15.5 60
14 $13.7$14.5 $51.3 $51.4
300 $49.3
310,908

$13.7 50 $51.3 $51.4

301,123

300 14 $49.3
$11.7
287,986

310,908

12 50 $43.0
301,123

250
263,223

$10.4$11.7
287,986

12 40 $37.7 $43.0
245,750

250 10
263,223

$10.4 $33.4$37.7
220,130

200 40
245,750

10 $8.2
8 30 $27.8$33.4
220,130

200
183,000

$8.2
150 $6.4
166,200

8 30 $27.8
+ 87
183,000

150
6
$6.4 + 142% $19.1 + 169%
166,200

since 2008 20
100 + 87 6
4 + 142% $19.1 + 169%
since 2008 20
100 10
50 4
2
10
50 2 0
0 0
2008 2009 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2008 2009 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2008 2009 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
0 0 IN BILLIONS 0 IN BILLIONS
2008 2009 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2008 2009 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2008 2009 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
IN BILLIONS IN BILLIONS

TAXES GENERATED

Business Taxes Business Taxes Excise Taxes

Federal State
Business Taxes Business Taxes Excise Taxes
Federal $3.9 State
4 $3.8 4 9 $864 $866
$3.7
4 $3.9 4
$3.8 98 $864 $866
$3.7
$3.1 $702 $713 $718

3 $2.9 3 $2.9 87
$3.1 $2.7 $2.7 $702 $713 $718

3
$2.5
$2.9 3 $2.3
$2.5 $2.9 76
$2.7 $2.7
$2.1
$2.5
$2.0
$2.3
$2.5 65 $454 $460
2 2 $1.9

$2.0
$1.5
$2.1 54 $352$454 $460
2 2 $1.9
$1.3
+ 161% + 121% 43 $352 + 104%
$1.5
1 1 $1.3
+ 161% + 121% 32 + 104%
1 1
21
0 0
2008 2009 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2008 2009 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 10 2008 2009 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

IN BILLIONS IN BILLIONS IN MILLIONS

0 0 0
2008 2009 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2008 2009 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2008 2009 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

IN BILLIONS IN BILLIONS IN MILLIONS

© 2018 National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved Item #9101A 3/18